Juneteenth Roundup

Juneteenth, our newest national holiday, commemorates the 19th of June, 1865, when slaves in Texas learned of their emancipation. These four books offer experiential perspectives on that day and its meaning.

All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Simon & Schuster, 2014, 32 pages

Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8

Recommended for: ages 6-10

The story of a single day is told experientially, as a black family awakens in their ramshackle cabin to another day of work among the cotton. In the middle of a long day under the hot Texas sun, word begins to spread. From the port, to the nearby city of Galveston, up the river and into the fields comes news “that a Union general had read from a balcony that we were all now and forever free/ and things/ would be/ all different now. Work stops; laborers leave the field and gather on the beach for an impromptu picnic that lasts far into the night. And when day comes again, it’s the first day of a new life. Many struggles lay ahead, but the earth has moved.

E. B. Lewis’s fluid watercolors capture the exuberance of a people whose circumstances changed literally overnight. The few whites in the story are blurred, keeping the focus on a people at the moment of their emancipation. An Author’s and Illustrator’s note at the end fill in more details and personal connections to the story, followed by a bibliography and timeline.

Overall rating: 4 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.5

Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper. Capstone, 2015, 38 pages.

Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8

Recommended for:

Mazie, a contemporary black girl, has a typical kid’s complaint: “I can’t go where I want, have what I want, or do what I want.” As her daddy reminds her, Great-great-great-great grandfather Mose lived under the word No: No prospects, no future, no freedom. Until that day the proclamation was read from a gallery in Galveston, his hometown, and everything changed. A glorious day of celebration set Grandpa Mose’s feet on a new path. The path was strewn with obstacles, but he and his people struggled on, learning, marching, lobbying, remembering, forgiving, and achieving. And now it’s Mazie’s turn to celebrate and be thankful.

The textured illustrations are most striking for facial expressions—joyful, determined, prayerful, thankful. The themes of hope and generational connectedness come through clearly.

Overall Rating: 4.5

• Worldview/moral value: 4.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4

The Story of Juneteenth: An Interactive History Adventure by Steven Ostinoski. Capstone Press, 2015, 111 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10

Recommended for: ages 8-12

The “You Choose” series poses three basic scenarios inviting readers to participate in historical events. This volume of the series follows the adventures of a young black man seeking a new life after emancipation, a teenage girl looking for the mother and siblings who were sold away years before, and a boy apprenticed to white farmers in order to earn money for his family. Each of these protagonists will face decisions and pitfalls on the way to a new life. As in all the “Choose” narratives, some of those decisions will end well and others will end tragically.

Of course there’s no room for detailed development, but this second-person approach encourages readers some imaginative reach as they picture themselves in various situations and consider their choices. (Asking middle-graders to choose one scenario to develop further would make an interesting writing exercise.) A basic timeline, glossary, and bibliography provide more information.

Overall Rating: 3.75

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 3.75

Come Juneteenth by Ann Rinaldi. Harcourt, 2007, 246 pages

Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15

Recommended for: ages 13-16

Luli Holcomb, the feisty youngest daughter of a Texas plantation family, has always regarded her biracial companion as a sister. That was in fact, the point, after her aunt informally adopted Rose, nicknamed “Sis Goose,” as a baby and passed her on to the Holcombs. But “just like one of the family” has its limits, especially when the family keeps news of their slaves’ emancipation to themselves. Even Gabe, who loves Sis Goose and expects to marry her when things settle down. None of them can understand why Sis is so upset when she finds out. Maybe she’s something less than one of the family.

The South’s peculiar institution fostered some complicated relationships between the races: often simple cruelty and hardship, but sometimes tortured love. Mature themes, some cursing, and a tragic ending make this more appropriate for teen readers.

Overall rating: 3.75

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4

Read more about our ratings here.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

Review: Another “You Choose” interactive history: World War I.

Resource: Our Black History Month book list

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